The Storage Space would have sighed with pleasure, titillating each of its individual storage units, if only a building could sigh with pleasure. That wonderful Karen was there again, caressing the once-grand carvings around the once-grand entrance from when the Storage Space had been a magnificent old theatre. She was dressed a little strangely, half-dressed really, but she was there.
Ah, when those grand old carvings were new. Many had touched them with wonder then, though they didn’t linger as lovingly as Karen. Still, it took the Storage Space back to when La Grande Troupe cavorted upon its mahogany stage. When an equally wonderful woman, an actress, sensitive and sweet like Karen, but a lot more frail, graced its stage. The sparkle of love in that actress’ eye, whenever the one the Storage Space would prefer not to think about any more appeared on stage at her side. The touching sincerity most often expressed in the unconscious tremolo of her tone. But, alas, ravished one night. Never the same. Especially after… Never mind. It couldn’t bear to think about that.
It was most rudely jolted back to the present anyway, when Le Grand Rat, that Irwin, that…what did they call them now?…”employee” left for the night.
Karen stopped caressing the grand-old carvings and hid behind them instead. Le Grand Rat was so busy muttering to himself about being one smart cookie that always played his cards right that he didn’t even notice her, though he walked right past her.
What was she doing there at that hour anyway, and half-dressed?
Karen waited, then used the front-door key Irwin gave out so he didn’t have to keep regular hours, clutching the precious little she wore about her, poor dear, and hurrying in so fast that she left the front door ajar.
